Quick Update!
Things have been going well at the lodge just very busy! Summer means rain and rain means lots of grasses and weeds which means lots of gardening needed! Getting there…
The monthly newsletter will be out early next week but in the meantime a few updates:
- A young elephant has died about 800 meters from the lodge. This morning there were 5 lions on there and the audio of lions and hyenas have been amazing! Still waiting to hear what exactly happened to him and will keep you posted. The sightings at the waterhole is also through the roof due to all the predators in the area and last night the pale male also made an appearance! Nice…
- The Wild Dogs have been working the Northern fenceline and yesterday we sat for almost 30 minutes as they got stuck into a kudu. Fantastic images and video and will post these soon!
Will be back with more soon!
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team
Rain. Lots and lots of rain…
It has now been raining for almost 3 days straight and it does not seem like things will be easing up.
Here is a quick rundown of rainfall this month.
- 5 November – 7mm
- 10 November – 5mm
- 12 November – 23mm
- 18 November – 32mm
- 19 November – 20mm
And this morning it is still going…
The total rainfall for this season so far is now around 150mm. Bush is looking great. And muddy… 
More soon.
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team
Wildlife Update
Hi,
Since the last newsletter there has been some interesting wildlife news.
Probably one of the most exciting is this…
The above image, taken by Grant Marcus from Tuningi, shows the Tshabalala females with brand new youngsters. The above images were taken just east of the Western Airstrip a week ago. The five new youngsters have been named the ‘Maropeng’ youngsters which means ‘place of origin’. Gonna be great to keep an eye on these youngsters and see how they grow up. Incidentally, the Tshabalala female was one of the two females that made a surprise visit to the inside of the lodge a few months ago! 
Also, when you next see Grant on the road make sure to thank him for these pics and you can also check out more of his work on Photo-Africa by clicking here.
Other news includes:
- Leopard – A large male leopard was recently found dead close to Buffalo Ridge. The cat’s jaw was broken which must have been the reason for his death. More info as we receive it.
- Wild Dog – The dogs have been hanging around on the ridge around the Wonderboom Node. Yesterday we left the pack at Royal Madikwe’s waterhole where one of the dogs as visibly in pretty bad shape and liming quit badly. Subsequently we heard that elephants moved into the area, chased the dogs all over the place and ultimately killed the injured dog who could not move away. More info as we receive it.
- Elephants – They have been missing the last few days but will no doubt be back.
- Buffalo – The big herd has been moving around in the south and sightings has been pretty scarce.
With temperatures soaring to well over 30 degrees, today the mercury is rising to 35 degrees!, and the occasional thundershowers summer is in full swing!
I will be posting some more images on this blog and on Photo-Africa soon.
We are still waiting for some feedback on the Nkurru 2010 mater mentioned in the latest newsletters so please send your thoughts through to the lodge email address. Also, if you would like to order a copy of Gerry’s book please let us know as will be placing orders towards the end of the week.
More soon.
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team
Reed Bed Update
A quick update on the ‘beautification’ of the reed bed. If you have been to the lodge during the last few weeks you would have seen the completed reed bed. The bird life is already moving in and we have had Grey Herons, Hamerkop and Comb Ducks paying us a visit during the last few days. The one small concern was the cement walls of the reed bed that was still showing. Well, we finally got the time to do a bit of work around the reed bad and it looks great!
The Reed Bed as seen from the Boma
We used a combination of rocks, shrubs and old leadwood stumps to hide away the cement walls and the difference is phenomenal. In a few weeks when the grasses and shrubs start to shoot up from the rain, which we are still waiting for, the reed bed will melt into the environment completely. Fantastic addition.
More soon.
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team
Update
Hi,
Quick update on updates. On the left of the screen you will see a section called ‘Nkurru News’. This is our new Twitter feed. If you have no idea as to what Twitter is no, it’s nothing to do with birding.
All you need to know is that is just another way in which we will be updating you with info and images form the lodge. It’s short updates that can be done via phone or on the web which meanse somethine we can do a lot more often. Short and to the point. And the best part is that you can access everything from this one site!
Game viewing has been amazing and as soon as there is a moment we will be posting more images. Have also taken some staff images which will be added to the various pages soon.
More soon.
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team
Rain!
It seems that the rainy season is pretty much here.
Here is what we have had thus far:
- September 25 – 1.5mm
- September 29 – 9.5mm
- October 4 – 24mm
- October 5 – 7mm
- October 11 – 10mm
Already over 50mm and the bush is loving it! Everything is turning green and with the dust being cleaned out of the sky Madikwe is looking great. It is still quite overcast this morning so hopefuly some more rain later today!
More wildlife updates soon.
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team
Tshola Mateya Update
Hi,
Shot this image this morning.
Mateya doing well up North.
Oct 6 2009 @ 08:30
Since the Tshola Mateya coalition started featuring in the lodge newsletters many people have asked about them and they seem to have developed quite a following. Here is the latest update.
They went off the grid for a few days but this morning they popped up way North in the park – almost at Maokeng Pan.
Since being kicked out of the South by the Kgala males the two big guys spent a bit of time on the ridge close to the lodge but now a whole new development is taking place.
Where are the Sereti males who used to hang around in the North? Will they stand up to the Tshola Mateya coalition? Will the Tshola Mateya coalition be setting up territory in the North?
Will keep you updated as things develop but at least it is good to see that Mateya is still going (relatively) strong even with his wonky back leg!
Oh, also posted a new Photo of the Day on Photo-Africa.
More soon.
Gerry, Adele & the Nkurru Team